Apparatus and system for measuring telephone service.



, D. S. HULPISH. APPARATUS AND SYSTEM FOR MEASURING TELEPHONE SERVICE.

APPLIOATION FILED APR. 3. 1905.

Patented Aug. 10, 1909 l flavwzsfiugwh wiziz esses V j zven Zon l z wav/( x Aflo rne y. V

, UNITED. STATES: PArENT OF ICE-"i DAVID S. HULFISH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO AMERICAN TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

Application filed 3, 1905. Serial No 258,574.

4 To all whom it m concern; 3 t

central ofiice equipment by-which connections originatingupon any given telephone line may be recorded, the record being made to indicate the number of successful calls originating u on that line; orjin other words, the number 0 callsor iginating upon that line in which the call progresses so far as the an-i swering of a station upon the. line called for, those calls not bein recordedv in which the line called for may ebusy, or the station upon that line may not answer, or any other circumstance or combinationmight result in;

- used in the comp the abandonment of the call before actual connection of the station calling with a station upon the line'called.v W -i My invention-pertains particularly. also to lines equipped withautomatie or semi automatic equlpment at the central office, the equipment of each line consisting in partlof an automatic switch-individualgto that line and which is moved at each. call to connect, selectively with one of manypossible sets of conductors or contact points; For example, in one type of such semiautomatic equip-- ment each telephone linehas' anl'automatic switchand multi le jacks, the jacks being ietion of calls to that telephone line, and the automatic switch being used in the completion of calls from that telephone line, it being the duty of said'automatic switch to select an idle trunk-whenever said line originates a telephone call; tohold said trunk during the ensuing connection, to

disconnect automatically at thee'nd of the connection, and at all other times to remainin its position of rest. a j J; The particular telephone line equipment (eom'prising as a part thereof an automatic Specification of Letters Patent."

APPARA'IUS nnnsvs'rnm FOB mason me TELEPHONE snnvron.

, Patented Aug. 10, 19 o9.

switchlshown in the accom anying drawing 'and described inthis speci cation, is of the type last above referred to; my improved counting and recordingmeans may of course be usedin conjunction with other types of equipment.

In the drawings: Figure 1 shows the sysitem of automatic switching referred to, with service meter added in accordance with my present invention; Fig. .2 shows, an alternative form of meter.

in Fig. 11 may be described asiollows: Telephone lines .1. and 2 are equipped with substation telephones 3 and, 4 res ectively; .telephone. line 2 has multiple jac s 5 and auto matic switch equipment partly illustrated at 7-6; telephoneline 1 has multiple jacks 7, and a complete automatic switch equipment and 'meter, shown diagrammatically in detail.

. 8 is an automatic switch consisting of a fixed part and axrotary part ;:the rotary art which carries moving contacts, termina ,or wipers 21 with conductors21, 22, 23, 24,,25respec- 'tively) is attached rigidly to ratchet Wheel 9.

and is always undergtension-yof spring 10 which returns it to its position of rest and holds it there at all times except when controlled by awls' 11 and 12; magnet mac.- tuates pawihl to advance ratchet 9 one ste for each such actuation;- pawl,1'2, h'ol s 22', 23, 24, 25 (shown connected 1 ratchet 9 in the position determined bythe both pawls' at 11' and 12 from control of I-Iiatchet 9, and spring 10 then returns the rotary part of the switch to its position of rest.

Pin 15 is attached to ratchet Q-andv'vhen thej vactuation of pawl 11; magnet 14 removes pan 16-17 to close, sai contact pair then remaining closed until the release an'dresto- -ration-of the rotaiyipart of the switch. The fixed part= of-swi'tchf8 carries a pluralit y of -setsi'oi Waitin contacts or terminals; twoaw'" of such sets being illustrated v incontacts-QSI sages, 34'; as ccnnected't was-31 xii ing to two other telephone lines respectively.

' waiting contacts In this manner each trunk is represented at each of a plurality of switches by a set of When the rotary part of said switch is at'rest, the wipers 21, 22-, 23,

24', 25 are'out of contact, as shown, but at the first step of ratchet 9 they are propelled into contact with waiting-contact-set 31, 32, 33, 34', 35; at the next step of ratchet 9 they leave these contacts and take a position in contact with waiting-contact-set 41, 42, 43', 44, 45, and so on through a number of waiting-contact-sets.

A tplurality of waiting-contact-sets is pro-, vide as above stated, each such waitingcontact-set being fully equipped as shown In connection with waitmg-contact-set 31', 32', 33, 34, 35'. i All other partsof Fig. 1, exceptin the meter 100, are represented by symbo s readily recognizable.

Disregarding for the present the meter 100, the-operation of the system is as follows: To make a call, substation 3 removes the receiver from its lhook, closing circuit of the substation telephone, giving ath for current from battery 67 throughrelays 18 and 19, line and substation telephone to ground'20; energization of relay 18 gives rent through magnet 13 and interrupter 26; the closure of this circuit at 26-results in the energization of magnet 13; contact of wipers 21', 22', 23, 24', 25 with waiting contacts .35 immediately follows,

giving path for current from battery 67 through relays 27 and 28, as follows:-battery 67, relay 27, conductor 24, contacts 24, 34', conductor 34, contact point 30, armature 29 and winding 36 of relay 28 to the other pole of thebattery. This current energizes relay 27 to interrupt the circuit of magnet 13 to prevent the wipers from stepping farther, and also energizes relay 28 to close itscontacts 38 39 and-open 29'-30,

but contact 29-30 is :inechanically such that its break is delayed; the attraction of armature 38 of relay 28"gives p'ath for current from the non-grounded pole of battery 67 to armature 38, contact 39,"conductor 33, con-. tacts 33,- 23, conductor 23 to relay'46' and ground, thereby energizing relay 46, .whichf by attracting its armature breaks the circuitpath for cur- "tery, and from of relay 18 ,and places the two limbs of the line 1 upon conductors 21 and 22, giving path for current from battery 67 through relay 47, elements 200, 32, 32, 22, 22, 1, 3, 1, 21,21, 31, 31, 201 and relay 47 battery 67;'rel'ay 47 thus energized, attracts its armature 48 and thus gives path for current through winding 37, contact 40, armature 29, winding 36, effecting the break of contact 2930 and release of armature of relay 2] prior to the release of relay 27, relay 18has been released by operation of relay 46. The attraction of armature 49 sends current through lamp 50, located near )lug 51, by the assage of current over the following'path: rom battery 67, to armature "49, armature 55, lamp/'50, to the other pole of' the. battery. The telephone -0 erator at telephone set 52 answers the cal by means of key .53, takes the order of the calling subas 5, of the line called scriber, tests a jack, for, and inserts plug 51 in the jack, giving ath for current from battery 67 through rcays 54 and 6; armature 55 is attracted and o ens circuit of lamp 50 andarmature 56 c osescircuit of lamp 57, causing lamp 57 to glow as-a signal to the operator that the called party is not at circuit through lam 57 is as follows: from one pole of battery 7 to armature 56, lamp '57, armature of relay 59 back to the other pole of the battery. The operator now rings the called station by means of the ringing back to' his telephone. The

key 58, and the answering of the called station and consequent closure of the circuit through the substation telephone gives path for current from battery 67 through relay 59, elements 2, 4, 2, and relay 60 to ground;

energization of relay 59 opens-the circuit of lamp 57, indicating to the operator that the called station has answered. The two subscribers are now connected for conversation over a metallic circuit between the sides of which battery 67 is bridged; this circuit extends from telephone at substation 3, by left-hand conductor of. line 1 to conductor 22, contacts 22, 32, conductor 32 includin acondenser. sleeve contacts of lug 51 and jack 5, left-hand conductor of line 2, telephone at substation 4,-right-hand conductor of line 2, tip contacts of jack 5 and plug 51,

conductor 31 including a condenser, contacts 31, 21,-conductor 21 to right-hand conductor of line 1, to the telephone at substation 3. Battery 67'is bridged between the sides of this circuit by connections leading' from Point 200 through the left-hand winding 0' hand winding o the battery. Both relay 59 and re ay 60 relay 47 to one pole of the bat-.-

oint 201 through the riglit relay 47 to the other '01s of will remain energized so long as the telephone at substation 4 is off the hook; I 1 Upon the completion of the'conversation,

I ator. The circuit which thus causes lamp 5,0

hanging up of receiver, andbreaking of circuit through substation 4 will release relay 59, reestablishing the previously traced lighting circuit of lamp 57-,gthereby causing the latter to glow as. a disconnect signal to the operator; hanging uprof' the telephone and breaking of the circuitthrough substation 3, will release-relay 47","which, with relay 54 remaining energized, willcause lamp 50 to glow also'a's a disconnect-signal'to the operto glow extends from one ole of battery 67 through armature-.49, 'b'ac r contact "of said armature-to front contact of armature 55, armature 55, lamp 50 to the-other pole of the battery. I Upon disconnection of the plug 51, the releaseof relay- .54 will extinguish both, lam s50 and 57. *Hangingupof receiveran breaking of circuit through sub nated by the'l-ine 1, a call -'.be'jco rnpleted for' the line 1, the insertion of aplug in one of thejacks 7- will energize relay 46 and remove-all station 3 also releases relay 19,; which thus gives path for current from battery '67- through magnet'1-4 and contact 17 16 back to battery; energization of magnet 14 releases the rotary part of the switch 8-, by the return of which con-tact 17&-16 is opened and all parts are at rest, awaitinganother call from a line... If, prior to another oall, origithe automatic equipment from the line with out having operated any part of it other ward until an idle trunk was encountered,

whereu on circuit to -ground from conductor *than called as above assumed, the trunkequipment associated with-conductors"31 "32, 33,

34, 35 had been in use by some other sub scriber, no circuit. would have existed from conductor 34- to ground, since 30 and 29 would have been outof contact, and relay 27 thus would not have been energized "-int'er;

rupter 26 thenwould have alternately opened and closed the circuit of magnet 13, stepping the. rotary part of the automatic switc for- 24 won (1 have resulted in action :as above outlined.

In connection with equipment reqruired in the normal 0 eration of the circuit as described, I adc the wiper;25 connected with conductor 25, the waiting contact 35"-connected with conductor 35, and. also con- .nected to other corresponding waiting contacts at other automatic switches (such as 80 and 800) as heretofore explained, the conductor 35 including'resistance 61, and the armature contacts 62, 63 of relay 60 (mentioned above but not forming a necessary part of such a switching system if the meter is omitted), andthe meter 100,

In the meter 100: Upon a base late 101 are mounted core 102, insulating b ock 103,

fixed pin 104 andcou'nting train 105; arma ture 106 is mounted upon core 102 by pivot the meter is not operated, but by the the relay 46. If when theline 1' had connection and is held away from the free end of said core by a spring 127; in insulating block 103 are supported electrical contact springs 107, 108, 109 and 110; upon armature 106 there is an insulating projection 111 adapted to engage electrical contact springs 107 and 109 alternatively; ratchet 112 forms apart of counting train 105- and has holding pawl 113 pressed by spring 114 and driving pawl 115 pivotally sustained upon armature 106 and pressed by'spring 116; pin 104 looks pawl 115 against ratchet 112 when armature 106 is attracted, to limit the motion of ratchet 112 to one step; contact spring 107 has a tendency to close with'108, but normally is held out of contact by insulating projection 111; terminals 120, 121, 122, 123 are pro- "vided for the connection of external conductors; core 102 has two insulated windings, 1 17 and 118.

The operation of the meter 100 is as 'follows: Until the answering of the called party, c osin'g .of the circult of the substation telephone 4,

the relay 60 is energized, as heretofore ex 119 throughe ements 121, 118, 108, 107, 122,

I 124, 17, 16, to ground at battery 67 later the insulating projection 1 11 presses spring 109 and closes the contact 109110, so that current from terminal 123 passes through 110,

109,, 125 to ground at terminal 120 without passing through winding 117, but core 102 remains energized by reason of current flowing in Winding 118; it is seen now that as cur: rent from armature 62 does not flow through the winding 117 of core 102, meter is in- 7 dependent of breaks or makes at that ar1na-' ture, andtherefore-c-an register only once for this connection, regardless of subsequent motion of the hoolr at substation telephone 4. It will be noticed also that the waiting contact or terminal 35, connected with conductor 35 and contacted with by Wiping contact or terminal 25', is now connected directly to ground through elements 25, 123,

110, 109, 125, without interveningapparatus or resistance, and that therefore the difference in electricalpotential existing between said waiting contact and the earth by reason of current flowing from battery 67 through armature 62, 1s practically m'l;

therefore, as other wipers corresponding to 25, in other, automatic switches (such as 80 and 800) corresponding to 8, 01' other lines corresponding to 1, make contact, by reason p the searching wiping contacts of other hereto words, the connection of waiting contact 35 directly to ground by the operation of the meter, as stated above, removes from all other waiting contacts (corresponding to con.-' tact 35 and located in other switches, such as 80 and 800) of the selected trunk, the predetermined electrical condition or potential,

the presence of which is essentialto the operation of other meters which may be passmgtly or temporarily connected to said trunk y switches in nting 'a' disengaged trunk; this condition-is maintained during the continuance of the connection to the selected trunk. Furthermore, until the called party upon abusy trunk has answered, there will be no contactat armature 62, therefore no battery connection upon the waiting contact 35 and corresponding contacts at other switches, and hence no tendency (the predetermined electrical condition or potential being'absent)-to operate the meter-of another line at whose switch passing engagement is made with waiting contacts of the engaged trunk.- It is seen thus that the meter of a line is not operated before. an idle trunk -isselectedfand, after such idle trunk has' been selected, is operated only when the called station responds, and not at any other time and not more than once. Resistance 61 is included in conductor 35 to control the flow of current from battery 67 after conductor 25 has been grounded by contact 109-110.

. In present'commonbatterytelephone prac tice, it is customary to workthe switch-hook to attract the attention of the operator .for-

another call, and such operation of the switch-hook will denergize magnet 19 in the same manner as when the receiver is hung upon its hook; magnet 19 thereupon releases its a'rinature which closes circuit through magnet 14, releasing' switch 8 and disconnecting the trunk, as aheady explained. The return of switch 8 to its normal position opens contact 1617, thusi'eleasing the meter and restoring conditions for the recording oi the succeeding call. In a connec-.. tion in which the telephone line 1 is the called line, the meteris entirely disconnected by :u-tion'oithe-relay 46.

In Fig. 2 an alternative typcof meter is shown, the relay 126 being introduced in lieu of the winding 117; in the operation of this form of meter mechanism, current i'rom conductor 25 to terminal 120 upon the answering or the called station energizes relay 126, which by closing its armature contact, gives path for current from battery 119 and terminal 121 through winding 118 to terminal 122 which registers, connects terminal 123 to terminal 120, and leaves the core 102 energized by winding 1 1 8, all as described with reference to the type of meter shown in Fig. 1.

I understand that in the general plan and within the scope of my invention, many types of electrical counting or registering devices may be united with many possible forms of relay and circuit combinations; therefore, I do not wish to limit myself to the particular form of re istering equipment herein shown and described, nor solely to an eqluipment in combination with the form of te ephone switching circuits and apparatus shown and described herein.

What I claim is: I

1. In a telephone system, the combination of a telephone line; a. selective switch for said line; trunk lines terminating in said selective switch;'means for causing said switch to automatically select a trunk and connect said telephone line therewith; a meter connected to said selective switch the operation thereof being dependent upon current received over a circuit including said selected trunk; means associated with said selected trunk adapted to supply current by way of said circuit; and means associated with the meter whereby said meter by operating removes itself from the influence of said circuit including the selected trunk, and, durin trunk adapted to supply meter-actuating current by way of said circuit; and means associated with the meter whereby said meter by its actuation removes itself from control of said meter-actuating .circuit, and, during the continuance of the connection with the selected trunk, subjects itself to control of current supplied by a diiierent circuit.

3. In a telephone system, the combination of a telephone line; a selective switch for said line; trunk lines terminating in said switch; means' for causing said selective switch to automatically select an idle trunk line; a relay associated with said selected trunk line; a meter connected with said selective switch and adapted to be actuated consequent upon the energization of said K seam-7 and thereby renders itself unresponsive to further action of said relay during the continuance of thec'onnection to the selected trunk.

4. In a tele hone system, the combinationofatelephone e; aselective switch for said line trunk lines terminating in said select-3 ive switch ;1 means for causing said select 'ive switch to automaticall'yiselect .an idle trunk and connect said tele hone line therewith; a relay associated w1th said selected trunkline; a meter connected with said selective switch; a meter-actuating circuit.

' switch removes the meter from control of said second circuit and 'permits restoration of the meter to condition to register subsequent connections effected through the selective switch.

5. In a telephone system, the combination of a telephone line; a selective switch for said line; trunks terminating in said selective switch; means for causing. said selective switch to automatically connect said telephone line-with a selected trunk line a meter in connection with said selective switch; a relay associated with said selected trunk iine; circuits by which the energization of said relay will cause the actuation of said meter; a second switch subsidiary to said selective switch and adapted to close an electric contact when .said. selective switch is out of its normal position of rest; a source of. electric otential; and a meter controlling circuit inc uding said second switch as a part thereof and adapted to be closed when said meter is actuated and to remain closed until opened by said second switch. f 6. In a telephone system, the combination of a telephone line; a selective switch for said telephone line; trunks terminating in said selective switch; means for causin said se-;

lective switch to connect said telep one line with a selected idle one of said trunks;- a

meter in connection with said selective switch; an electromagnet formln a part of said meter; a winding on said e ectromagnet; a circuit by which said winding may be energized by current received from said selected trunk; a switch in connection with said electromagnet ada tedto be actuated upon the energization 0 said winding; a second winding on said electromagnet; a second switch subsidiary to said selective switch and adapted to close together a air of contact points when said selectiveswitch is out of its normal position of rest; a source of potential;

other lines; a meter for said telephone line and a circuit including said source of potential, said switch in connection with said electromagnet, said second winding and said second switch.

7. ha telephone system, an electromagnetic connection-registering meter; a relay adapted to control the actuation of said meter by its electromagnet; an auto matic switch adapted to connect the circuits of said meter with the circuits of said relay; an oilnormal switch associated with said automatic switchfand a circuit for controlling the meter when it is once. operated, said circuit including said off-normal switch as part thereof and adapted to be closed by the action of said meter and to remain closed until opened by said off-normal switch, substantially as described.

8. In a telephone system, the combination of a telephone line; anv automatic selective switch for said telephone line; other lines terminatingin said selective switch; means for causing said selective switch to connect said telephone line with a selected one of said including as parts thereof an electromagnet, windings on said electromagnet, and anarmature for said' electromagnet adapted to actuate a counting train; circuit-controlling means forming apart of said automatic selective switch; and circuits by which upon the attraction of said meter armature by current flowing through one of said windings a circuit is closed through another of sa d windings and through said circuit-controlling means, substantially as described.

9. In a telephone system, a plurality of calling telephone lines; a plurality of trunks; an automatic switch corresponding to each calling tele hone line, and having terminals of its said inc and terminals of each of'said trunk lines adapted to be brought into engagement when the switch automatically connects a calling line with one of said each callingtelephone line connected to one of the line-terminals of the corresponding automatic switch, and the trunk-terminals with which said line-meter-terminal is ada t--. ed to respectively engage being hereina ter designated ftrunk-meter-termmals connectlons joining in multiple the trunksmeterterminals of each trunk throughout the plurality of automatic, switches; means associated with each trunk for im osing upon its 'trunk-meter-terminals a pre etermined electrical condition essential to the operation of a meter and means rendered eiiective by the operation of a meter, which is connected to a trunk through engaging automatic switch terminals, to remove from the multipled. trunk-meter-terminals of said trunk said predetermined electrical condition. during the continuance ofthe connection which produced said operation of the meter.

In a telephone system, a plurality of getlierin multiple trunk terminals in a plucallmg tele hone lines; one or more called rality of said selective switches; an elec telephone lines; a plurality of trunks for inl tromagnetically operated meter in connecterconnecting said calling and called lines ;an

and terminals of-each of said trunk lines adapted to be brought into engagement when the switch automatically connects-a calling line with one of said trunks; a connection-registering meter for each calling telephone line connected to one of the line terminals of the corresponding automatic switch, and ethe trunk terminals with which said; line-meter-terminal is adapted to respec-tively' engage being hereinafter desig nated trunk meter-terminals connections jo' in multiple the trunk-meter-terminals-o {each trunk. throughout the plurality of automatic, switches; means associated with each trunk, and under control of a called line to which said'trunkfis connected, for imposing u on its' trimk meter-terminals a predetermmed electrical condition essential to the 0 eration aofga meter; andmeans rendered "e ective bytheoperation of a meter, which is connectedfto atrunk through engaging automatic switcht'erminals, to remove from the multipled trunk-meter-terminals of said trunk said predetermined electrical condi tion which produced said-operation of the meter. 4

11. In a tele hone system, the combination of a plura ity of telephone lines ;'a selective switch for each line; a plurality of trunks; trunk-terminals in .each selective switch for each of said trunks; connections joining in multiple throughout the switches the trunk-terminals of the respective trunks; means for causin the selective switch of a. calling telephone ine to automatically connect said hne with terminals of 'a selectedidletrunk; a meter connected to said selective switch and adapted to bev a'ctuatedby current received from a terminal of said selected trunk; means in connection with said selectedtrunk adapted to give meter-actuating potential'to said-trunk terminal arid the multipled terminals thereof at other selective switches; and nieansin connection with the meter whereby the latter byits actuation removes said meter-actuating'potential' from said trunk terminals of the selected trunk. i 12. In a telephone system, the combination of atelephone line; a'selective switch'for said line trunks having terminals in said selective switch; a source of electric potentiatand circuits for causing said select 1ve switch to pass busy trunks and to automatically connect said telephone line with a selected idle trunk; other telephone lines;

other selective switches having terminals of said trunks; conductors connecting to tion with said first-named selective switch; a automatic switch corresponding to each callmg lme, and having terminals of its said line relay connected with said selected trunk; circuit connections joining the armature contacts of said rela multipled terminals of said selected trunl c, a source of electric po-- tential and the meter-operating electromagnet, whereby the energlzation of said relay will complete a path to give meter-actuatin current to the said electromagnet; a switc in connection with said meter and actuated by said electromagnet and circuits whereby said switch by its actuation removes from the multipled terminals of said, selected trunk the condition laced thereon by' said relay which caused t e energization of said electromagnet and actuation of said meter.

13.j'In a telephone systemfthe combination o'f;a telephone-line; a selective switch for saldline having wiping contacts connected with donductors ertaining to said tele hone line and adaptell to make contact wit set of a series of sets oi'waiting contacts of said selective switch; trunks connected to said sets ofwaiting contacts respectively; means ftin causi g the wiper-contacts of said switch tdpass usy trunks and automatically connect said telephone line with a selected idle trunk; a meter connected to a wiping contact of said selective switch; one or more other telephone lines having similarly. constructed and connected selective switches and meters, the sets of waiting contacts of said switches being connected in multiple to the corresponding waiting contacts of the first recited selective switch;

means associated with each trunk adapted to give meter-actuatingpotential to the waiting contacts of said trunk which are adapted to be engaged at, the several switches respectively by the wiping'contact which is connected to a corresponding meter; and

means in connection with each meter whereby its actuation removes said potential from saidwaiting' contacts of the engaged trunk.

14. In a telephone'system, the conihination of a telephone'lin'e a selective switch for said line; trunks terminating in said select- .ive switch; means for causing said selective mg together in multiple trunk terminals in a plurality of said selective switches; a metor connected to said first-named selective switch and adapted to be actuated by current received from said selected trunk; means connected with said selected trunk adapted to give meter actuating current to the said multipled terminals of said selected trunk in said selective switches; and means and State of Illinois, in the presence of two 1n connection wlth sald meter whereby said wltnesses. meter by 1ts actuatlon removes from the multipled terminals of said selected trunk DAVID HULFISH' 5 the condition which caused the actuation of 'Witnesses:

said meter, substantially as described. J. M. H. WINSTON,

Signed by me at Chicago, county of Cook I HAZAEL C. PRADO. 

